All season long, Liberty's offensive efforts centered around Doug Erney's passing as the senior set a new school mark by surpassing Dan Persa's seasonal mark of 2,104 yards.

In addition, Ryan Lawrence provided the perfect complement in the backfield.

So, it was no surprise when the duo once again combined their efforts in a balanced plan to help the Hurricanes capture the Eastern Conference Class 4A title with a 35-27 victory over Emmaus Friday night.

It was the fourth Eastern Conference title for Liberty, their last since they defeated Whitehall, 42-35, in 2011.

Liberty, which ended its season with a 7-5 mark, defeated East Stroudsburg South, 36-6, the previous week to advance to the championship game.

Erney completed 11 of 21 attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns, tying Persa's mark of 24 touchdowns in a season. He hit Darius Jones on a 79-yarder and also a 32-yard scoring strike, and he also connected with Elijah Hall on an 11-yard score.

Lawrence rushed for 149 yards on 19 carries, shocked the crowd on a frigid night when he broke free on a 66-yard scamper on the first play of the second half that snapped a 21-21 tie. Lawrence also scored on a 2-yard dive in the opening half.

For Lawrence, a senior, it was the perfect cherry on top of the seasonal sundae.

"This was a great way to end the season," said Lawrence. "We wanted to get to districts, but this is also special for us seniors and for the entire team. We all wanted to prove something to ourselves at the end of the season.

"We started slowly, but we really got it all together."

Liberty, which deferred to Emmaus on the opening kickoff, watched the Green Hornets' Andy Davidson personally march the length of the field as he had every carry of an opening 63-yard drive that gave Emmaus a 7-0 lead. Davidson finished with 277 yards on 51 carries.

But the Hurricanes quickly responded on their second official play from scrimmage off a pair of illegal motion penalties when Erney hit Jones at his own 35 and the senior sliced and diced his way onward to a 79-yard score.

Late in the first half, Liberty looked more like their selves after a plodding start in which they were down 21-7, and it carried through into the second half.

"We were a little slow out of the gate," said Liberty head coach John Truby. "Emmaus is a good team and they took advantage of it. It's nice to send the seniors out this way and we're trying to build for our future."

"Anytime you can end your season on a victory, it is a good feeling."

Liberty will lose a core of seniors, but they will return Erney and several more players in the mix.

"We'll lose a good group of seniors, but we have a good group coming back," added Truby. "Our goal was to get to districts, but this win will help us for next season."